Though the residents of Yashwant Nagar in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai live in a congested neighborhood, they enjoy security of tenure and benefit from a strong civic sense - the result of a long-established community living in the area.

The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) uses the UNDP-devised Human Development Index (HDI) as a measure by which to allocate resources.

Using parameters like population, literacy rate and infant mortality, and ranking wards in the order of performance, the BMC apportions funds to areas with lower education and higher mortality rates. The BMC also encourages the participation of Mumbai's citizens in the monitoring of education and health projects.